Exploring Hope

Sunday, May 31, 2026

Hope Church Family,

In the book of Nehemiah, after the walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt, chapter 8, verses 1-8 describe a time set aside for reading God‘s Word, which they called "The Law." Ezra read from a platform and Levites who were among the people, explained what Ezra was reading so that they understood. The time of reading was not simply a ritual, it was a time of learning; the people were growing in their understanding of God’s Word.

Today at Hope Church Chicago, as we worship our Lord around His Word, we are going to do something different. The message will be a bit shorter and we will take time to discuss what we just heard from God‘s Word. James 1:25 instructs us to be, not a "hearer who forgets but a doer who acts", when it comes to God‘s Word. Our goal is to heed the lessons of Ezra and James.

I hope you can join us today at 4:00 PM as we gather to worship in the chapel of Chicago Hope Academy, 2189 West Bowler Street in Chicago. Additional parking is available behind the school in the lot at 2156 W. Ogden. Entrances to our service are marked with Hope Church Welcome flags.

If you are not able to join us in person, our live stream is available at https://www.youtube.com/
and our secure online giving is available at https://hopechurchchgo.org/give

God has spoken His heart. We seek to learn it, to live it, and to share it. We would love to have you with us on that journey!

Attentive to His Word,
Pastor Charles.

Hope Church Chicago - Give

The individuality of American Culture is incompatible with the life God calls us to live through Jesus the Christ as a family.

God gives us an identity that does not align with the traditional definition of identity (I look to my culture) or the progressive definition of identity (I look within myself).

1 Peter 2:9-10
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Thoughts from today’s message:
Your New Identity.

Pastor Charles Butler. Hope Church Chicago.
Exploring Hope

Hope Church Family,

Each Sunday, we have the privilege of meeting in the chapel of Chicago Hope Academy. This Sunday, however, the school is having their graduation in the chapel at the time we would normally meet for worship.

Because of that, we will gather for worship at the Butler home at our usual time of 4:00. For security reasons, I will not post our home address in this public email. However, if your would like to come and don't know where we live, email me at [email protected] and I'll get the info to you.

We don't livestream from our house, but on Monday or Tuesday we will post an audio recording of tomorrow's message, "Living Stones" from 1 Peter 2:4-10. The following Sunday we will be back in the chapel.

Feel free to visit our YouTube page at
https://www.youtube.com/
to view a past message or service. We will look forward to being with you next week. If you prepared an offering for this weekend, our secure online giving is available at
https://hopechurchchgo.org/give

The Lord is our Rock, the foundation stone of our salvation and of our lives. Worship Him with your whole heart,

Because He is worthy,
Pastor Charles.

Hope Church Chicago - Give

"42" is a biographical film that tells the story of the integration of Major League Baseball by Jackie Robinson. Branch Rickey, the executive who recruited Jackie Robinson, approached him with a vision: to racially integrate Major League Baseball by becoming the first Black player in the league. That was going to mean enduring hostility from the press, the fans, the opposing team, and his own team. He would suffer verbal abuse, biased calls, and attempts to injure him physically during games. But he would need to show restraint and grace, and overcome the obstacles with talent and dignity.

When you are clear about your destination, when you're confident about your goal, it raises your capacity to endure uncertainty and hardship.

If that is true about earthly things, and it is, how much more does it hold true for eternal things? Through the message, “Fire-Tested Faith,” 1 Peter 1:6–9 will encourage and strengthen us as we continue the series, "The Hope That Overcomes."

I hope you can join us today at 4:00 PM as we gather to worship our Lord around his word. We meet in the chapel of Chicago Hope Academy, 2189 West Bowler St. in Chicago. Additional parking is available behind the school in the lot at 2156 W. Ogden. Entrances to our service are marked with Hope Church welcome flags.

If you are not able to join us in person, you can view our live stream by visiting
https://www.youtube.com/
and our secure online giving is available at
https://hopechurchchgo.org/give

Our Lord is worthy of our time and attention. Let's worship Him today with our whole being!

For His Glory,
Pastor Charles.

Hope Church Chicago - Give